Monday, September 19, 2011

"No" is not a disaster

Sending your writing out into the world is like watching your child go to school for the first time. Will he eat his lunch? Will the other kids be nice to him? How much easier our parental minds would be if we could sit with that child throughout the day and tell everyone how cool and awesome he is. And how much better they all will be if they are friends with him.

<;----(Yes, this child is in a bathrobe; it was pajama day).
Sending a query or manuscript out is hard! If you could sit by the people reading your work and expound on how awesome it is, you know they would rush to the presses.
The fear of the rejection can be paralyzing. Babe Ruth said, "Don't let the fear of striking out hold you back."
 I like this quote by him even better: "Every strike brings me closer to the next home run."
 
Ask yourself: What is the worse that can happen?
Answer: Someone will say no.
This doesn't mean your or your writing isn't good enough. "Sorry, we can't publish your story at this time" just opened a whole world of opportunity for you. There are hundreds of agents waiting to read your stories.

"No" is not a disaster; it's a beginning.

Are you ready for your new beginning? What will it be??

6 comments:

Amie Borst said...

i've heard more "no's" than i know what to do with! it's not fun, that's for sure. but there's a light at the end of the tunnel...and this time it's not an oncoming train!

Janet Johnson said...

Great thoughts! It's definitely a beginning and Babe Ruth was a smart guy. You have to get through the no's to get to the yes. :)

Alice said...

I try to think of rejections as successes and steps that bring me one step closer to publication (not always so easy to do). First I have to let myself feel bad and pout for a day, then I kick myself into gear and revise or work on something else, and when I feel ready and strong enough for more, I send it out again.

Taffy said...

Thanks for the wonderful comments, ladies!

Donna said...

Great point and good analogy. Sending your writing off for the first time is kind of like sending your baby off to school where he or she will be judged by peers and graded by teachers. But that triumphant feeling you get when you hear that first "yes" after so many "no's" makes it all worth it.

Lauren said...

I like rejection. It means I actually did something.

Lauren

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